SPC Keeps Multiple Watches as Severe Storms Move Across Central and Southern Plains

Overview

• The NWS Storm Prediction Center issued and updated numerous mesoscale discussions and several severe‑thunderstorm and tornado watches during the May 29–31 episode to track fast‑changing storm threats across the Plains.
• Forecasts and radar-confirmed reports show the main hazards are very large hail and damaging straight‑line winds, with isolated tornadoes where low‑level shear and boundaries favor rotation.
• Central Kansas and parts of Nebraska had the strongest buoyancy, with MLCAPE estimated near 4000 J/kg, which favored rapid updraft intensification and a conditional very‑large‑hail threat.
• The Weather Prediction Center warned that slow‑moving, training clusters over southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri could produce rainfall rates of 1–2 inches per hour and pockets of 2–4 inches that may cause isolated flash flooding.
• Forecasters expect overall coverage to decrease after sunset due to cooling, but they caution that a strengthening nocturnal low‑level jet and interacting outflows could prolong localized wind, hail, or brief tornado risks into the overnight hours.